27/11/2025 Scarborough Perth

So I have lost a day which is unfortunate in someways but I choose to see it as a bonus as it’s a whole day less of missing Simon,

The room is clean and tidy, the bed incredibly comfortable and after letting people know I’d arrived ok, and a face time with my Morgi, I got some sleep. When I woke up it was around 0900 and I hauled my aching self out of bed and made a brew before planning my day. Planning is a stretch to be fair but I did some online research about things to do around where I am. I’ve decided I’m not going to bother unpacking, I’m only here in the hotel for a week so it’s a pointless exercise.  Speaking of the Hotel, it's giving me Hotel California vibes, ‘You can check out any time you like but you can never leave’!

It’s modeled on the Sands Hotel in Vegas and allegedly Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, and AC/DC have stayed here . I hope they’ve had new mattresses since then… 

I actually really like it, it’s quirky, with lots of 50/60’s inspired paintings on the walls inside and also in the pool area.  It’s colourful, I mean you wouldn’t want to spend too much time looking at some of the walls pissed up because you’d think you’d been drugged but sober I love em!  

My first challenge for the day was to get to the beach, I desperately need to be by the ocean, it grounds me and makes me feel better. My plan had been to go swimming, but I'd completely forgotten how strong the waves and undertow is on Scarborough Beach. The last time we were here, Si was able to hold me upright, and keep me close so I didn’t get washed out to sea and eaten by a Great white. My swimming isn’t the best and I also know despite there being swimming flags, and surf life guards on the beach, my balance isn’t good enough to do more than paddle. I was gutted as I just wanted to float and swim , and can’t believe I was stupid enough to forget it was a two person job getting me in and out of those waves.  

I sat on the beach for a long time, completely lost in the mesmerising ebb and flow of the tide, letting the sounds of the crashing waves wash over me while I sat inhaling the ocean breeze doing my somatic breathing. I could feel my body softening dramatically.  

Feeling a little better about the day I carried on up the beach on to the path. The area is incredibly beautiful, well looked after, not a spot of litter anywhere, just a well used space. There is a free outdoor gym (I won’t be doing any of that shit) and a huge outdoor swimming pool that opens at 0500 until 2100. Surrounding it are grassy areas, with sun beds, picnic tables, umbrellas and best of all it’s heated. I think it’s a salt water pool, and I’ll be in there over the next few days. Whilst it’s not as relaxing as the ocean at least it’s a safe space to swim right on the ocean so it’s a good second place in my book.  

All along the esplanade are bars and restaurants but given I’ve eaten enough food to feed a small country until Christmas 2026 I’m giving food a miss for a day or so! I’ll go down one evening to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean and have a nice meal next week. I always loved sunset over a sunrise, but since Si died I don’t have the same love for them at all, he prefers a sunrise, and I’ve realised, I am doing the things he loves over what I loved , sunrises, sticky toffee puddings, crisps (fukin crisps????) I am a chocolate girl above all else, but I don’t enjoy it the same as I used to. I mean I’ll force it down but it’s not the same at all… 

As I bumbled along, taking everything in and stopping to enjoy the beautiful ocean views from one of the hundreds of benches dotted along the way, I regretted my decision to bumble although there weren’t a great deal of options. And then I noticed an e scooter, bright purple, I’d noticed some outside the hotel but paid no attention to them as I walked by, so my cunning plan now is to get the lovely little girl on reception to teach me how to ride one and use it to get around. I am. A.  goddamn. Genius . I mean how hard can it be right?? 

That little plan made I went looking for a coffee shop, but failed to find one where I could look at the ocean, and I didn’t want to go to the bars. So, next time I’m going to get a takeout coffee, pour it into my insulated drink bottle and plonk myself on the grass and watch the ocean. I may even borrow a book from the hotel and take it with me. 

Just off the main esplanade was the shopping centre and despite drinking loads of water since the landing my skin was dehydrated. Absolutely NOTHING at all to do with the amount of alcohol I consumed in the flights, so coconut water was on the list of things to get.  Once I got that I put it in my rucksack and decided to head back to the hotel to do something about the waves of tiredness washing over me.  

As I left the shopping centre I noticed a spa hotel that does ice baths, magnesium baths, saunas and massages so I took a quick photo of the contact details so I can book in next week. 

Arriving back at The Indian Ocean Hotel,  I picked up a towel from the reception for the pool, and went back to my room to change.  I used my noodle when I booked this particular place as it has a jacuzzi which has always been beneficial for pain management, so getting into that bad boy was a real treat. It’s located under cover, but it has skylights which you can watch the clouds race across the sky through as you’re lying in the jacuzzi.  I love it, I also loved the hand painted concrete block walls. Which is truly a sight to behold… 

I stayed in the jacuzzi until I was like a prune and then contemplated a swim. Unfortunately when I got out of the jacuzzi my legs felt they were wading through treacle and I could barely put one foot in front of the other so instead I sat in the sun and just people watched from behind Si’s sunnies. There was a little old couple and in the twenty minutes I was sat within earshot of them, all I heard was her talking to him. Never once did he reply, I mean he would have been hard pushed to get a word in edge ways but I found it really amusing that she just kept talking at him. There are no sun loungers at the pool so people were just using two chairs or lying in the grass. It’s a bit off there are no sun loungers. The bar is massive, and when I walked in the Eagles ' "New Kid In Town" was playing which made me smile.  I’m still so full I can’t even contemplate a beer!!! Maybe tomorrow. 

The bumbling along the esplanade, jacuzzi and still trying to catch up from the flight had me heading to my room. To my great delight there was a message waiting for me from Julie. I'm meeting up with her, Carey and my mamma Kay tomorrow morning for a girlie day.  I can’t wait to see them. I'm also off to an 80th Birthday party on Saturday with Mamma Kay, it's her brother's birthday and I’m invited. I love my Aussie ‘family’ . They are truly the epitome of friends being the family you choose for yourself.  I have a lot of them and I am truly grateful and appreciative of each and every one of you. 

The weather is looking mighty fine for the next week with the temperatures creeping up to mid 30’s, although it will be hotter than that in real feel for sure. I will start getting my tan on! Although I burnt the back of my hands today, I forgot to put sun oil on them. FFS. 

My coconut water has done the trick with regard

To rehydrating me and I feel a lot better and I’m still too full to eat!  

I love how friendly the Aussies are, bumbling through the Thirsty camel bottle shop drive through, I was greeted twice with a “how ya goin” and I love the anonymity of being in a strange place where no one knows me or what’s happened to my beloved Simon. It’s denial of reality for sure, but just for a few moments I can forget that life is shit and grab hold of and experience something different. 

So a pretty boring day really and if you’ve reached the end I applaud your dedication and appreciate you for sticking with it.  I’m trying to manage my expectations and keep them non-existent, that way I’m hoping I’ll be able to find joy in some of the everyday stuff again. 

Much Love

Mrs Leonard. X